---
title: "Melon-headed Whale"
description: "Peponocephala electra — Mammals. The melon-headed whale (Peponocephala electra), also known less commonly as the electra dolphin, little killer whale, or many-toothed blackfish, is a toothed whale of the oceanic dolphin family (Delphinidae)."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/melon-headed-whale
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Melon-headed Whale

> Peponocephala electra — Mammals. The melon-headed whale (Peponocephala electra), also known less commonly as the electra dolphin, little killer whale, or many-toothed blackfish, is a toothed whale of the oceanic dolphin family (Delphinidae).

- Scientific name: *Peponocephala electra*
- Category: `mammals` (Mammals)
- Habitats: `sea` (Sea & coast)
- iNaturalist observations: 114
- Wikidata: [Q724349](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q724349)
- iNaturalist taxon: [41543](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/41543)

## Names

- en: Melon-headed Whale
- de: Breitschnabeldelfin
- es: Delfín cabeza de melón
- fr: Péponocéphale
- nl: Witlipdolfijn
- pt: Golfinho-cabeça-de-melão
- pl: Melonogłów wielozębny

## Countries with the most observations

ID (23), TL (5), UM (5), PH (3)

## Summary

The melon-headed whale (Peponocephala electra), also known less commonly as the electra dolphin, little killer whale, or many-toothed blackfish, is a toothed whale of the oceanic dolphin family (Delphinidae). The common name is derived from the head shape. Melon-headed whales are widely distributed throughout deep tropical and subtropical waters worldwide, but they are rarely encountered at sea. They are found near shore mostly around oceanic islands, such as Hawaii, French Polynesia, and the Philippines.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melon-headed_whale

## Photo

![Melon-headed Whale](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/melon-headed-whale/medium.jpg)

Photo: Richard Fuller · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110383457

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/melon-headed-whale?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).